Jerusalem, Israel, April 4, 2011 – Priests from around the
world have experienced the “spiritual renewal” of attending a special
course for 20 days in the Holy Land, and are
now encouraging those who can to attend the event this
summer or in the future.

The course is sponsored by Sacerdos and is designed for priests and religious. Those who
attend stay at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, overseen
by the Legion of Christ.

“It was like a mini-sabbatical,” said
Fr. Steven Liscinsky, LC. He was among the 30 diocesan
and religious priests and 5 Legionaries who attended during January
and February of this year. “We followed the life of
Christ - starting with Bethlehem, then going to Galilee for
four days, visiting Jericho and the Jordan River, Nazareth and
the Sea of Galilee.”

The group was blessed to relive the
“Holy Triduum” of Christ Mass on Thursday recalling the Last
Supper in the Cenacolino, followed by a Eucharistic Hour at
night in Gethsemane where they renewed their priestly promises. On
Friday, the group celebrated Mass on the site of Calvary,
and then celebrated Mass at the site of the burial
tomb of Jesus on Saturday. On Sunday the group participated

During the Eucharistic Hour in Gethsemane, the priests lie prostrate around the stone as the litany of saints is sung.

in the liturgies of the local parishes in Jerusalem.

Throughout
the following week, the group visited various sites, including Emmaus,
the Dead Sea and Masada, Ain Karen, the Church of
the Pater Noster and the Russian Orthodox Church of the
Ascension. They concluded their visit at the Basilica of the
Dormition of Mary.

The daily schedule consisted of sightseeing trips during
the mornings and saying Mass together at a different shrine
each day. Every evening there was also an hour of
adoration and evening prayer (vespers) together with the group. They
also heard presentations from experts on topics such as Biblical
geography, Jewish theology, ecumenism, apologetics, homiletics and other pastoral topics,
as well as the situation of the Christians in the
Holy Land.

The group received three days of Ignatian spiritual exercises
directed in three different languages.

“Most of the priests commented
how they really liked the design of the course –
following the life of Christ,” said Fr. Steven. “They also
appreciated that there was plenty of time to visit the
holy sites and pray, not just see them. There was
also time to fraternize with other priests from different cultural
backgrounds, which was a very enriching experience for all.”

Fr.

In the Bethlehem grotto where they celebrated Mass.

Paul Pazhangattu from India, who also attended the course said
of his experience, “I thank the Lord for making this
trip possible and all the experiences I had here. I
was able to spend a lot of time in the
holy places in and around Jerusalem. The Renewal Course also
helped me to renew my priestly commitment.”

Another priest from
the state of Delaware, Fr. Anthony Giamello, said, “My experience
of the Renewal Course was amazing! To visit and to
pray at the holy sites where Jesus lived, where he
ministered for three years, suffered his passion, died and rose
from the dead was truly an awe-inspiring experience. The Scriptures
that are so much a part of our lives as
priests, what we pray and preach, comes alive in the
Holy Land. I would hope that all priests would have
the opportunity to attend the Renewal Course and to renew
their priesthood.”

The Jerusalem course takes place twice a year, in
winter in January and February, and in summer during July.
For more information, visit the Sacerdos website. The cost to
attend is about $2,000, including meals and transportation. Sponsorships may
be available. For more information, contact Fr. Alex Yeung, LC
at ny@legionaries.org or Father Julian Stanfield, LC, at jstanfield@legionaries.org.